In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma sits down with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hisham Seify of Newport Beach for a thoughtful conversation about how aesthetic medicine has evolved — and how it increasingly overlaps with integrative health, longevity, and midlife wellness.

Over the past two decades, aesthetic goals have shifted dramatically. The focus is no longer “bigger” or dramatically altered — it’s healthier, more natural, and aligned with overall wellbeing. Together, Dr. Soma and Dr. Seify explore what that means for women navigating perimenopause and menopause.

They discuss common midlife changes including post-pregnancy abdominal laxity, breast sagging and volume shifts, facial aging around the eyes and neck, and how genetics and lifestyle factors — including sun exposure, stress, inflammation, smoking, alcohol, and diet — influence how we age.

Dr. Seify explains the difference between non-surgical and surgical facial options by decade, how he defines “natural” rejuvenation (often referencing younger photographs rather than filtered trends), and how he counsels patients influenced by social media aesthetics like the “cat eye.”

The episode also explores regenerative aesthetics, including:

They address breast changes during midlife — including fat redistribution, glandular loss, ptosis, and large-breast symptoms — and review options such as lift, augmentation (with implants or fat), reduction, and advances in breast cancer reconstruction.

Dr. Seify also shares insight into his practice’s GLP-1 weight-management clinic using medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, discussing how weight loss affects surgical candidacy, timing, medical clearance, and the importance of weight stability before surgery.

The conversation debunks common misconceptions:

Above all, this episode emphasizes safety, research, and choosing board-certified surgeons through reputable professional societies — and pursuing aesthetic procedures for yourself, not for trends.

00:00 – Welcome + Medical Disclaimer

🎙 Connect with Dr. Hisham Seify

🎙 Connect with Dr. Soma

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share with a woman navigating midlife who wants clarity — not confusion — about aging and aesthetics.

In this intimate solo episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma explores a quiet but powerful experience many women face in midlife: the growing sense that the professional identity that once fit no longer feels aligned.

Rather than framing this discomfort as burnout, failure, or ingratitude, Dr. Soma reframes it as information—a signal of growth, clarity, and evolving values. Drawing from her clinical experience and lived insight, she unpacks how biological shifts, emotional maturity, and deeper self-awareness intersect to change our relationship with work during midlife.

You’ll hear Dr. Soma describe the three most common paths of professional change in midlife—the quiet pivot, the parallel expansion, and the full reinvention—and why none of them mean you chose “wrong” earlier in your career. This episode is an invitation to pause, listen inward, and trust yourself during a season of recalibration.

If you’ve ever thought “Everything looks good on paper—so why does this feel different?”, this conversation is for you.

00:00 — Introduction and setting the scene

🌐 Website: https://somamandalmd.com

If this episode resonated, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review — it helps more women find conversations that honor midlife as a time of clarity, not crisis.

And if you know a woman quietly questioning her professional life, consider sharing this episode with her. Sometimes permission is the most powerful gift we can offer.

In this insightful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Kristen Blake, a functional nutritionist and women’s wellness coach dedicated to helping women heal from the inside out.

Kristen shares the personal health struggles that led her to build Kristen Blake Wellness, and walks listeners through her root-cause approach—a method that integrates personalized nutrition, targeted lifestyle changes, and nervous system support to address the deeper imbalances driving symptoms.

Together, Soma and Kristen explore the foundations of women’s metabolic and hormonal health:

They also highlight the importance of collaborative care between nutritionists and physicians to support women through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.

This conversation is a must-listen for any woman navigating midlife who wants to feel energized, balanced, and deeply supported in her body.

00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer

🌐 Website: https://www.kristenblakewellness.com

🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com

If this episode helped you understand your body, hormones, or health habits more deeply, please follow, subscribe, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover science-based, compassionate guidance for thriving in midlife.

In this illuminating episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Karen Curry Parker, founder of Quantum Human Design™, bestselling author, and pioneer in the field of energy psychology.

Together, they explore how Quantum Human Design can help women decode their soul’s blueprint—providing unprecedented clarity, direction, and self-understanding, especially during midlife transitions. Karen breaks down the key differences between traditional Human Design and her upgraded Quantum system, explaining how energetic alignment affects everything from mood and resilience to physiology and hormone balance.

The conversation dives into the deeper stories that shape our identity, the impact of living out of alignment, and how midlife—particularly perimenopause and menopause—can become a powerful awakening decade rather than a crisis.

Listeners will learn how to use Human Design insights to make aligned decisions, transform old narratives, regulate emotional energy, and step into a more authentic, empowered version of themselves.

This episode is rich with wisdom, compassion, and practical tools for anyone seeking meaning, healing, and clarity during one of the most transformative chapters of life.

00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer

🌐 Website: https://www.instagram.com/karencurryparkerofficial/?hl=en

🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com

In this empowering episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Maryellen Reider, co-founder of Yarlap, an FDA-cleared pelvic floor strengthening device designed to help women regain confidence, control, and comfort in their daily lives.

Together, they dive deep into the often-ignored world of pelvic floor health, breaking through stigma and silence surrounding urinary incontinence—an issue that affects millions of midlife, postpartum, and athletic women.

Maryellen shares the origin story of Yarlap, the science behind correctly performed Kegels, and why so many women unknowingly perform pelvic contractions incorrectly. She sheds light on the rigorous process of FDA clearance, user customization, contraindications, and the powerful success stories of women who have transformed their quality of life with the device.

The conversation highlights the profound connection between pelvic health, hormones, menopause, postpartum recovery, and overall well-being. Dr. Soma and Maryellen underscore the importance of early intervention, proper resources, and evidence-based tools to support women at every life stage.

Whether you're navigating postpartum changes, the hormonal shifts of menopause, or simply curious about pelvic wellness, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and hope.

00:00 — Introduction and Disclaimer

🌐 Website: https://yarlap.com

🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com

If this conversation encouraged you or helped you better understand your pelvic health, please follow, share, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women access empowering conversations about their bodies and their well-being.

In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal is joined by Sue Choi, founder of The Coherent Body, a somatic awareness and nervous system healing practice that helps women rebuild resilience, presence, and inner stability.

Sue shares her powerful personal journey—from living with chronic depression to discovering the healing potential of yoga, martial arts, and mindfulness-based somatic work. She explains how her method evolved into a trauma-informed, integrative approach that teaches women how to reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies.

Together, Soma and Sue explore the science and art of coherence, how posture and sensory integration shape emotional regulation, and why somatic awareness is essential for navigating hormonal transitions, chronic stress, and midlife change.

Listeners will learn practical tools to regulate the nervous system, cultivate presence, and complement traditional therapy or medical care with body-based practices that promote deep, sustainable healing.

A must-listen for women seeking calm, clarity, and embodied confidence—especially during perimenopause, menopause, or life transitions that demand resilience.

00:00 — Introduction to Sue Choi and The Coherent Body

🌐 Website: https://www.coherentbody.com

🌐 Website: https://www.somamandalmd.com

If this conversation inspired you, please follow, rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover the tools and insights they need to thrive in midlife and beyond.

In this powerful episode of Soma Says, host Dr. Soma Mandal sits down with Michelle Smith, LPC, LMHC, LCMHC, a trauma-informed psychotherapist who helps women move from survival mode to self-trust.

Michelle shares her personal journey into psychotherapy and unpacks the deep connection between the brain, body, and emotional healing. Together, they explore what it truly means to heal from the inside out—addressing the impact of trauma on the brain, the difference between coping and healing, and how self-compassion, mindfulness, and body awareness can transform mental health.

Listeners will walk away with practical tools for grounding, understanding the nervous system, and recognizing that real healing begins when we stop trying to “fix” ourselves and start listening to our inner wisdom.

This conversation offers insight, hope, and clarity for anyone navigating anxiety, burnout, or emotional overwhelm—especially during the midlife transition.

00:00 Introduction to Michelle Smith and Her Work

🌐 Website: www.michellesmithlmhc.com

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Soma Says on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women discover empowering, science-based conversations on healing, resilience, and thriving through midlife.

In this powerful episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal shares exciting news about her new role as Medical Director of Women’s Health at Hackensack Meridian Health. She’s then joined by special guest Krishna Avalon, a subconscious reprogramming expert who blends acupuncture, somatic healing, and subconscious therapy to help clients move through emotional blocks and accelerate healing.

Together, they explore the transformative power of the subconscious mind, including techniques like Psych-K and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Krishna shares how the pandemic reshaped her purpose, and why aligning the conscious and subconscious mind is key to lasting growth. If you’ve ever felt stuck, anxious, or disconnected from your inner voice, this conversation offers science-backed tools and spiritual insight to help you come home to yourself.

💫 Whether you're a woman in midlife, navigating burnout, or seeking clarity in the chaos, this episode is a must-listen.

🧠 Episode Breakdown

🔗 Connect with Krishna Avalon

✨ Work with Krishna: Learn more about subconscious reprogramming, 1:1 sessions, and free tools at her website.

👩‍⚕️ Connect with Dr. Soma Mandal

🎧 Subscribe, rate & share this episode with someone who's ready for their next transformation.

In this episode of Soma Says, host Dr. Soma Mandal, newly appointed Medical Director of Women’s Health at Hackensack Meridian Health, shares exciting updates about her new role at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and the mission to advance comprehensive, compassionate women’s care.

Joining Dr. Soma is Dr. Robert Kane, CEO of Kane Thermal Imaging, for a fascinating look into how thermal imaging technology is transforming medicine. Together, they explore the science behind this non-invasive diagnostic tool and its diverse applications — from early breast cancer detection and chronic pain management to sports performance and hormonal health.

Dr. Kane explains how thermal imaging captures subtle temperature changes to identify inflammation, vascular issues, and physiological patterns before they become disease, highlighting its potential as a complementary tool to traditional diagnostics.

This conversation sheds light on the future of functional imaging, AI integration, and women’s health innovation — offering listeners a glimpse into how technology can bridge prevention, precision, and empowerment in modern medicine.

00:00 Exciting New Role Announcement

🌐 Website: www.kanethermalimaging.com

🌐 Website: www.somamandalmd.com

In this inspiring episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma Mandal welcomes Lisa Axelrad Schultz, founder of The Verdura Method, to discuss how women can break free from the trillion-dollar insecurity industry and reconnect with their innate vitality.

Lisa shares her fascinating journey from the beauty and wellness industries to creating the Verdura Method, a transformative approach that empowers women to embrace their bodies, nourish themselves holistically, and reject unrealistic beauty standards. Together, Soma and Lisa explore the intersection of nutrition, mindset, and self-image, the impact of social media on self-esteem, and the myths women internalize about aging and health.

This conversation is an invitation to reimagine wellness — not as punishment or perfection, but as freedom, confidence, and self-acceptance.

00:00 Exciting Career Announcement

🌐 Website: www.verduramethod.com

🌐 Website: www.somamandalmd.com

If this episode inspired you to rethink beauty, confidence, or wellness, please subscribe, share, and leave a review for Soma Says on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps more women find empowering, science-backed, and soulful conversations on midlife health and self-care.